Low-cost mobiles to drive 3G growth: Ericsson

New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Sweden-based telecom equipment maker Ericsson Thursday said the third generation (3G) services in India are in a pick up mode and it will be accepted widelye if low-cost handsets come in.

“The first and second quarters of this year have seen the pick up of deployment of 3G,” Fredrik Jejdling, regional head India and Ericsson India president, told IANS.

“For a proper implementation of the same, the device will be a major drive. Iphone or other high-end phones would not help, low-cost phones are required for better implementation,” he added.

Ericsson has extended a contract with telecom service provider MTS for managing their multi-vendor wireless networks in two circles — Delhi and Haryana.

The contract, signed in September 2010, was extended this month.

As part of the agreement, Ericsson is now operating MTS’ wireless networks in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh East, Uttar Pradesh West, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Talking of the acceptance of wireless data services in a price sensitive market like India, Jejdling said that “broadband is where the future growth will be”.